Dacia Sandero Stepway

The Dacia Sandero Stepway is designed as a rugged version of the regular Sandero hatchback. Although it has a raised ride height, it’s a great-value alternative to crossovers like the Nissan Juke and Fiat Panda Trekking.

Dacia is all about low costs, and the Stepway is extremely well priced, undercutting most of its main rivals by quite a margin. It’s also very spacious, while the diesel engine is cheap to run and has a decent amount of mid-range pulling power.

If you’ve driven a Renault in the last decade, the Sandero Stepway is likely to feel familiar from behind the wheel, as the car uses older Renault components and switchgear. As a result, it isn’t the most premium package, but this is one of the main areas where the brand has been able to save on costs, which it’s passed on to its customers.

Dacia launched in the UK as a no-frills, budget brand offering cut-price cars that are cheap and cheerful. The regular Sandero hatchback grabbed headlines as Britain’s cheapest car, but this wasn’t just a one-hit wonder for the company; Dacia has gone from strength to strength, adding other models to its line-up.

The Sandero Stepway is based on the Sandero hatchback, but it has a raised ride height, roof rails and black plastic cladding around the wheelarches and bumpers, which give it the look of an SUV. It sits below the Logan MCV estate and Duster SUV in the Dacia range.

As the Sandero Stepway is front-wheel drive, it isn’t really a serious off-roader – don’t expect it to rival a Land Rover over rugged terrain – but those few features make it a little more rugged and capable of tackling bumpy surfaces than your average hatchback.

Value is what Dacia is all about, and the entry-level Sandero Stepway Ambiance is extremely cheap to buy. Yet it isn’t badly kitted out considering the bargain price tag. There’s only one other trim level, the top-spec Laureate, and while it’s a bit more costly, it brings more equipment so it’s still incredibly good value.

Just as there are two spec choices, there are two engine choices: a 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol, badged TCe, and a 1.5-litre dCi diesel. Both deliver 89bhp and are hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox – this is the only transmission option. The engines are sourced from parent company Renault, and have been proven in the Clio supermini and Captur crossover.

It’s difficult to compare the Stepway to rivals because of its low price and because it sits halfway between a hatchback and a small SUV. However, it arguably occupies a similar market position to affordable, spacious cars such as the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross, the Hyundai ix20, Kia Venga and Honda Jazz, as well small crossovers such as the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008. Although it isn’t full 4x4, it could also be considered against the likes of the Suzuki Swift 4x4 and Fiat Panda Cross.  

The Dacia Sandero Stepway shares its underpinnings with the standard Sandero hatchback. This car, in turn, is based on the previous-generation Renault Clio and, as you would expect, it feels a bit dated on the move.

However, it's far from outclassed as the jacked-up suspension soaks up bumps very well, so the ride is comfortable. There’s a reasonable amount of grip, but the body rolls through corners. Plus, the steering is heavy at low speeds and provides the driver with little in the way of feedback. It’s hard to complain at this price, but you don’t have to look far to find another small, cheap car that’s more fun to drive.

What's more, despite its tough looks, the Sandero Stepway doesn’t offer much in the way of off-road ability. The all-season tyres give a little extra grip in tricky conditions and the raised suspension delivers additional ground clearance, but that’s it. Power is still fed to the front wheels – there isn’t a four-wheel-drive system – and the car doesn’t come with any off-road driving aids.

On the plus side, the raised ride height provides an improved view of the road, and Dacia has positioned the pedals well. The five-speed manual gearbox – the only transmission option in the Sandero Stepway – is easy to use, too.

There are two engines available – one petrol, one diesel – and both have 89bhp. The petrol is a 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder, which is well suited to low-speed driving. It isn’t great outside of town, though, as it needs to be revved hard to get anywhere and struggles at A-road and motorway speeds.

The 1.5-litre dCi diesel is much better for high-speed cruising, and although this version of the Sandero Stepway is no performance car (it takes 12.1 seconds to cover 0-62mph, compared to 11.1 seconds in the petrol model), it is more flexible than the TCe. It also has a reasonable amount of mid-range pull when you bear in mind that it isn’t a big, powerful engine. 

The standard Dacia Sandero supermini is a relatively rugged looking, unfussy car – and that translates well to the SUV-inspired Stepway. In fact, the transformation has been a success.

Dacia has bulked up the Sandero Stepway with plastic wheelarch extensions and sills, as well as chrome roof bars, while the ride height has been increased by 100mm over the standard Sandero. All of these changes help it stand out from the basic five-door compact hatchback, and overall, it has a more upmarket feel due to the sprinkling of SUV style.

Unlike the regular Sandero, the Stepway is not available in entry-level Access trim – the basic hatch has unpainted bumpers, steel wheels and less equipment, but an even lower starting price. Instead, buyers of the Sandero Stepway can only choose from Ambiance and Laureate specifications, and both come with body-coloured door mirrors and bumpers, as well as stylish plastic wheel covers that can easily be mistaken for a set of alloys.

Despite the exterior differences, the Stepway is pretty much the same as the Sandero hatchback inside. It has the same logical dashboard layout, lots of hard plastics and plenty of switches that are familiar from Renault models. It’s basic, but everything feels robust and the driving position is also very comfortable.

The Sandero Stepway should prove reliable, even though it only arrived on the UK market in 2012. It finished in 54^th place in the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 satisfaction survey, which is just outside the top quarter of the 200 cars in the chart.

The 900cc petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines are shared with models in the latest Renault range, as is the five-speed manual box, and the rest of the tech is lifted from the previous-generation Clio supermini. These components have been around for a while, so any problems should hopefully have been ironed out by now, plus the Dacia’s simplicity means there’s less to go wrong in the first place.

Despite its budget roots, the Sandero Stepway comes with a respectable haul of safety kit, too: all versions get four airbags, ABS, stability control and Isofix child seat mountings.

However, Euro NCAP awarded the standard Sandero a four-star crash test score, which isn't the best when the maximum five-star score is the general standard for most modern superminis. The Sandero Stepway hasn't been put through the test separately, but you can expect a similar level of protection in the event of a crash.

Dacia Duster

 

The Dacia Duster is a Nissan Qashqai alternative with a Nissan Micra price tag. It’s consistently one of our top-rated small SUVs.

 

The Dacia Duster is a compact SUV that costs the same as a supermini. The low pricing helps make it competitive enough to take on the best in the family hatchback and crossover SUV sectors. See it as a cut-price Nissan Qashqai that’s good enough to have buyers questioning whether they really need to spend more for the real thing.

The Dacia Duster range is simple and some models are very basic, but there’s no doubting the value for money on offer – it’s a genuinely cheap and cheerful model, particularly after the range was subtly enhanced for 2015 with a new grille and new top-line trim level.

It does have weaknesses, particularly in the areas of safety, the lack of features on some models and engines that aren’t quite as economical as more expensive alternatives. But the Duster compensates with superb interior flexibility, appealing looks and decent overall driving manners.

It’s a no-frills but stylish SUV that does exactly what it says on the tin without costing you a fortune. A smart buy indeed.

The Dacia Duster launched in Britain in 2012, offering bargain-hunting car buyers a unique proposition: a family-friendly Nissan Qashqai-style compact SUV for the price a supermini. It remains so today: remarkably, the cheapest Duster costs less than the cheapest Ford Fiesta!

Unlike many budget cars, though, the Duster has genuine appeal. Dacia is part of the huge Renault-Nissan Alliance, so the oily bits beneath the surface are up to date, and some of the bits inside can also be seen in Renaults and Nissans.

Offered in a single five-door bodystyle, The Duster is similar in size to a Nissan Qashqai, which means it has a roomy interior that’s big enough for a family of five. There are only two engines and the 1.6 petrol is only offered on the base car so most buyers get the 1.5-litre diesel. Dacia offers a 4x4 option, but not an automatic.

For 2015, Dacia gave the Duster a mild facelift. A revised grille, some fresh colours and new wheel choices were offered. A top-spec trim level was introduced too, called Laureate Prime. As a result, the Duster has never been more expensive but Laureate Prime is also probably the best value version in the range.

It all means there are now four trim lines for the Duster: Access, Ambience, Laureate and Laureate Prime (that will only be sold in 2015, says Dacia). The Access is almost unacceptably basic – you don’t even get a radio or body-colour bumpers, and the only colour you can have is white – which makes the effective entry-level car the Ambience. Do note, air con is only standard on Laureate models.

Prices are comparable to superminis but the Duster’s chief rivals are cars like the Ford Focus, Skoda Yeti and Suzuki S-Cross – and of course the Nissan Qashqai and new Renault Kadjar with which it shares showroom space.

The Dacia Duster is a simple, straightforward car and this is reflected in the way it drives. If you’re looking for something a bit more engaging, look to the Ford Focus: the approach here is focused on delivering a decent ride and safe, foolproof handling, rather than the ultimate in driver enjoyment.

Because it’s a bit higher off the ground than a regular hatch, the soft suspension means the Duster does lean a bit in corners. It doesn’t give much feedback either, but the benefit comes in ride quality around town. The Duster soaks up bumps well and is supple over rough roads. Just be mindful that the suspension can produce a sensation like a bobbing boat if you drive too fast down undulating roads.

Early UK-market Dusters didn’t have ESP as standard, a major safety omission. All 2015 cars now have it as standard though, and there’s a Nissan-derived three-mode 4WD system available across the range if you want the security of extra traction.

The high seats and raised stance mean the Duster is a confidence-inspiring drive in the city, although the budget car does still lag behind pricier rivals in its lack of safety assist tech – emergency auto-braking is unavailable, for example. Rear parking sensors are a dealer-fit option: front sensors are not offered by Dacia.

The engine choice is simple for the Duster range: a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, or a 108bhp 1.5-litre dCi turbodiesel. Indeed, Dacia makes it even simpler: the 1.6 is only offered on base Access trim – all other Dusters come with the sole diesel engine.

The diesel is easily preferable. The Renault-sourced unit can be a bit gruff under acceleration, but it’s a decent performer with lots of pull at the bottom of the rev range and ample strength to pull a family of five. You don’t have to keep changing gear to maintain progress, and the six-speed gearbox itself is light and easy; this helps keep engine noise under control when cruising.

The 1.6-litre engine is harder work. Despite being the fastest Duster on paper (0-62mph is quoted at 11.5 seconds, compared to 11.8 seconds for the diesel), it feels flat on the road because it has to be revved: it has 60% less pulling power than the diesel, and this torque is delivered 2,000rpm higher up the rev range.

Driving the 1.6 quickly is thus a noisy affair that you won’t enjoy. If it’s fully laden, you’ll have to work the gearbox – if you have to go petrol, choose the 4x4 variant as this has a six-speed gearbox that makes it a bit easier. Do note, Dacia doesn’t offer an automatic transmission on any Duster.

The two Renault-derived engines are both familiar units – and easily the best choice is the dCi diesel. Fuel economy isn’t exceptional by modern standards, but 56.5mpg for the front-wheel drive 4x2 version is still acceptable. CO2 emissions of 130g/km mean it just falls into the free first-year road tax category.

Impressively, the fuel economy penalty for choosing the 4x4 diesel is minimal: it still averages 53.3mpg and official consumption figures for urban driving are even more closely matched. Do note that stop-start or any other green assist features are unavailable on any Duster, though.

The petrol engine is much less competitive. It averages 39.8mpg, a figure we used to associate with 1.6 petrol cars of a decade ago. In town, official figures suggest less than 30mpg, which is worryingly thirsty. The 4x4 version officially averages just 35.3mpg overall, and emits a whopping 185g/km of CO2 – that’s a full four VED tax bands higher than the 4x4 diesel.

The Duster has an appealing, chunky SUV style on the outside, with bold wheelarches and a stylish front end. The latter has been enhanced for 2015, and the new colours now on offer also modernise the Duster. The black sheep is the Ambience which, with its white paint and unpainted trim, looks cheap.
Incidentally, the Laureate Prime only has one paint choice too – but it’s a very appealing Cosmos Blue metallic.

The appealing style isn’t quite carried through to the inside. The dashboard is neat enough, but a bit plain compared to other compact SUVs – and quality reflects its budget roots in being a bit plasticky and plain in places. It feels like a supermini-class car, rather than a more premium SUV.

The dials and switchgear will be familiar to Renault Clio drivers, and it’s all very simple to use. It lacks high-tech features, preferring good old fashioned knobs to more modern electronic displays. You don’t even get a trip computer until the top-spec Laureate, for example.

The only version that does feature advanced tech is the Laureate Prime: it comes with a standard MediaNav Evolution touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav. This has live traffic info and Aha web radio; the regular Laureate is available with an older version of MediaNav sat-nav as an option.

Cloth trim in Ambience models feels cheap, but things do improve as you go up the range (every variant has a different type of seat trim). The Laureate Prime has special dark carbon upholstery with blue inserts; you can also choose leather on all versions above Ambience, but we’d stick with cloth.

The Dacia Duster had been sold for several years in Europe before arriving in the UK. This, combined with its simple nature and use of very well proven Renault and Nissan-sourced components means reliability and dependability are proving competitive.

There has been a surprising issue with rust appearing on early models, though. These were built in India and don’t seem to have had quite the same level of corrosion protection we’ve come to take for granted in the UK. The 2015 model is built in a different plant in Romania and Dacia assures us the issue has now been sorted.

What really lets the Duster down is its weak safety score. Euro NCAP has given it just three stars for overall crash safety. In a marketplace where five stars is the accepted norm and anything less than four stars is unacceptable, this is a real weakness.

The Duster suffers not because of any major failings in crash protection, but in its lack of safety assist features. ESP has only recently been standardised, for example, and electronic emergency braking isn’t available even as an option. Only front and side airbags are fitted as standard; curtain airbags are not available.